Safety stop mechanism for embossing machines



June 1948- J. H. GRUVER I 2,444,292

SAFETY STOP MECHANISM FOR EuBOSSiNG MACHINES Filed Aug. 12. 1946 2 Shets-Sheet INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS June 29, 1948. J. H. GRUVER SAFETY STOP MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1946' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvsmox v .HGPug/eh BY 2/1144: 4

ATTORNEYS Patented June 29, 1948 John H. Grover, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Adosraph-Muitiph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a ooration oi Delaware Application At 12, less, Serial No. 689,986

(fil. rot-ac) This invention relates to embossing machines and particularly to safety stop means forming a part of the control mechanism thereof whereby the embossing dies are selected and set into operation.

In the Duncan and Hubbard Patent 1,831,103, patented November is, 1931, and in the Duncan Patent 1,518,904, patented December 9, 1924, embossing machines are disclosed for preparing embossed printing plates by embossing the printing characters on a metal plate, and in the machine of the aforesaid patents the opposed pairs of, punches and dies are disposed in spaced circumferential relation about the periphery of a pair of die heads, provision being made for rotating such die heads to bring any selected pair of punches and dies into an embossing position. When a pair of punches and dies has been brought into such embossing position, means are rendered effective as set forth in the aforesaid patents to actuate the selected punch and die through an embossing cycle.

The diehcads of the aforesaid patents are constantly driven rotatively through a friction clutch and when a particular punch-and die pair is to be selected and set in the embossing position, an appropriate stop of'an annular series of such stops is set into an active position so as to be disposed in the path of a radial stop arm carried by the same shaft that carries the die heads. Thus, when the stop armreaches the stop that has been set in its effective position, the die heads are brought to rest with the selected punch and die pair in the embossing position. As an incident to the stoppingioi the stop arm in the selected position, the effective stop engages a control lever carried on the stop arm so as to rock bard patent the control stops are operated by I keyboard means, although these stops may, under some circumstances, be operated by automatic means that serve to selectively actuate the stops in the same manner as the keyboard mechanism disclseddn the Duncan and Hubbard patent.

'l he prop'er o eration of the mechanism disclosed n il'idiifuncan and Hubbard patent is dependent po'n an'e'iement of timing'which requires that selected stop be moved to its fully effective position prior to engagement of the stop by the stop arm, and since the stop arm rotates quite rapidly and is concealed from the view of the rzoperator, it is impossible for an operator to judge nfer-time the actuation of the control keys so as o insure proper operation of the mechanism in every instance. The primary dimculty that has been encountered in this respect is that where the actuation of a particular stop is initiated at a time when the rapidly moving stop arm is relatively close to the selected stop, the lower portion of the leading edge of the stop arm will engage the stop prior to completion of the upward or setting movement of the stop. When such a partially actuated stop is thus engaged, it is often found that the stop has not been projected for a sumcient distance to engage the control lever that initiates the cycle of operation of the embossing means, and when this occurs, the stop arm will come to rest at the position determined by the actuated stop, but since the embossing cycle is not initiated, the selected stop will not be restored and the die heads will remain in the position in which they have come 1 to rest but there will be no embossing oi the selected character on the printing plate. In the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent means have been. provided for restoring the partially set stop under such circumstances, and the operator may then depress the proper key so as to cause properembossing operation of the machine. The time lost in effecting the key restoring operation is, however, objectionable, and the primary object of the present invention is to enable the control or stop mechanism of such an embossing machine to be operated without danger of misoperation of the character described hereinabove. Another and related object of the invention is to so control the operation of the stops of such an embossing machine that initiation of a stop-setting operation cannot take place when the parts are in such relation that suificient time is not available for completion of such stop-setting operation.

A further and related object of the present invention is to enable a partially set stop in the control mechanism of such an embossing machine to be automatically returned to its ineffective position when sufiicient time is not available for completion of the setting movement of it, and it is also an object of the invention to insure that the stop arm of such an embossing machine will not be brought to rest under circum-- stances where the related embossing cycle will not be initiated.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principle thereof and what I nowconsider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made In the drawings:

, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stop mechanism g embodying the features of the invention and incorporated in the stop mechanism of the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard Patent No. 1,881,103;

Fig. 2 is a. bottom plan view taken partially in' section, and showing the stop mechanism of Fig. 1 in its normal relationship;

L that the arm ISA be stopped in the position determined by the stop SI and that the arm ISA be prevented from rebounding or moving in a reverse direction, and for this purpose, a latch pawl 20 V is pivoted upon the outer end of the arm ISA so as to extend, in a forward or leading direction.

v The latch pawl 20 has a bifurcated trailing end Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showin the parts of the mechanism after engagement.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through the drive shaft of the mechanism. 7

For purposes of disclosure, the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in the selective stop mechanism of an embossing machine such as that shown in detail in the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent, No. 1,831,103, and reference may be had to the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent for details of construction and operation of the mechanism that is associated with and controlled by the improved selective stop mechanism of the present invention. As illustrated in the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent, an annular series of punches and an annular series of dies are supported in opposed operative relationship upon a vertical shaft that is herein designated by the numeral Ill, and this vertical shaft is constantly rotated through a friction clutch means that is illustrated in the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent, and when a particular pair of punches and dies is to be selected and set in what may be termed the embossing position of the machine, the rotative motion of the shaft I0 is interrupted and the shaft III is brought to rest in a proper rotative position by means of a selective stop mechanism II. This stop mechanism II includes a stationary annular mounting ring I2 concentric with'the shaft I0 and having an annular series of vertically movable stops S mounted therein for upward movement into projected positions, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 by the,position of the stop SI, and when a stop has thus been set to its operative or effec tive position. it cooperates with a stop arm mechanism IS that is fixed upon the shaft I0 so as to rotate with the shaft in an operative relationship above and with respect to the annular series of stops S. The stop arm mechanism IS includes a main arm ISA having a split mounting collar IS at its inner end secured in predetermined angular relation on the shaft III by means including a clamping screw I1. The shaft II) is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, and with this arrangement, a face or abutment plate I 8 on the forward or leading face of the arm ISA, moves toward the adjacent face of any stop S that maybe in its set position, as illustrated by the stop SI in Fig. 1. When the arm ISA thus approaches such a stop SI, it is desirable portion 2ST that embraces the end portion of the arm ISA, and a pivot pin 2| is extended downwardly through the bifurcations and the immediate portions of the arm ISA to effect the desired pivotal mounting of the latch 20. A stop lug 22 is secured to the arm ISA so as to be disposed outside of the pawl 20, thereby to afford a stop to limit outward pivotal movement of the latch 20. At its forward end, the latch 20 is provided with a tooth 24 that is adapted to engage the remote face of the stop SI when the arm ISA is in the proper relationship to the stop SI, and a cam surface 25 enables the latch 20 to be cammed outwardly by a lug SI against the force of a. spring 26 that acts between the latch 20 and an anchoring pin 21 that isprovided on the arm ISA.

When the arm ISA moves into an operative relationship with respect to an actuated stop, as SI, the arm ISA and the associated shaft ID are brought to rest in such a position as to locate arm ISA on a pivot pin 3|. A spring 32 acting between the outer arm A of the latch 30 and an anchoring lug 33 on the arm iSA serves to locate the latch 30 so that the forward or leading face of the outer arm 30A thereof is disposed in a forwardly or leading relationship with respect to the plate I8. When the latch 30 is thus positioned, the other or inner end thereof has a tooth 3ST projected inwardly in a radial direction into the shaft III in such a manner as to hold the embossing control mechanism of the machine in an inactive or inoperative relation. As disclosed in the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent, the shaft I0 has a vertical bore IOB 'in its lo werportion, and within this bore IIIB a plunger is slidably mounted in a fixed relationship-upon the upper end of a vertical control rod 36. When the tooth MT is located over the upper end of the plunger 35 so as to prevent upward movement thereof, the embossing mechanism of the machine is maintained in an inactive relation, but when the tooth 3ST is withdrawn to its ineffective position of Fig. 3, the plunger 35 is released for upward movement, and as described in detail in the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent, this initiates a cycle of operation of the embossing means of the machine.

The selective stop mechanism as hereinabove described is embodied in the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent, and in accordance with the present invention, means are associated with this selective stop mechanism to insure that improper operation of the stop mechanism will be avoided in every instance. To this end, a shroud plate is mounted in association with the stop arm mechanism and directly beneath the arm ISA so asto prevent operation of any stop S where the rapidly advancing stop arm ISA is so close to such stop that insumcient time remains for complete and proper setting of the stop S. The

shroud plate BI! is carried upon a sleeve i that surrounds the shaft Ill directly below the lower end of the sleeve I5, and an arcuate slot 52 formed in the shroud plate 58 concentric with the axis of the shaft I8 is engaged by a downwardly pro- Jecting stop pin 53 mounted in the lower face of the arm I5A. Thus the shroud plate Bil is adapted for limited angular movement with respect to the arm IEA and about the axis of the shaft I0, and a torsion spring 54 is arranged to yieldingly urge the shroud plate in a leading direction with respect to the arm ISA. Thus the shroud plate 88 normally assumes the rela-- tive position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings wherein the trailing edge 521 of the slot 52 is engaged with the pin 53. The shroud plate 50 may however be moved to the relationship shown in Fig. 3 with respect to the arm ISA and in this relationship the end ML of the slot 52 islocated adjacent to but just out of contact with the pin 53. The torsion spring 6i has the spiral portion thereof arranged to embrace the sleeve 5| and the lower end ML of this spiral portion of the spring is engaged with an anchorin collar 55 that is fixed on the shaft ill by a screw 55A, Fig. 1, The other end of the spiral portion of the spring 54 has an arm A that extends outwardly and is bent upwardly so as to be engaged with an opening 58 in the shroud plate 50, and it is through the arm A that the spring pressure is applied to the shroud 50. As will be evident particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the leading edge of the shroud plate 50 is cut away as at 58L, thereby to afford clearance for the pivot 3| .and the spring 32 when the shroud plate 50 is in its normal or leading position of Figs. 1 and 2. When the shroud plate 50 is in this normal or leading position, it is arranged to aiforda leading edge 58 disposed a substantial distance in a leading direction away from the plate I8, and in the rotative or advancing movements of the stop arm ISA, it is this leading edge 58 that tends first to strike a stop, as SI, that is in its set position, and if an effort is made to actuate a stop that is located beneath the shroud plate 50, such actuation will merely cause the par-- ticular stop to move upwardly into engagement with the lower face or surface of the shroud plate 50. Hence this actuation will not be completed until the shroud plate 58 has passed off of the top of the particular stop S. The forward portion of the shroud plate 58 that terminates in the forward edge 58 thereof is aflorded by an upwardly turned flange 58F, as will be evident in Figs. 1 and 4, and this upturned edge or flange 58F thereby affords a trailing surface or abutment 58T which will engage the arm 38A of the latch 38 as well as the plate i8 when the arm ISA advances with respect to the shroud plate 50. Thus when a stop Si has been set to its fully effective position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the rotative advancing movement of the shaft ill will first bring the leading edge surface 58 of the shroud plate into engagement with the stop Si. The rotative or advancing movement of the shroud 50 will thereby be stopped, and the arm IBA will continue its advancing movement until the end 38A of the latch as engages the surface 5ST of the shroud. Continued advancing movement of the arm WA will thus cause the control latch 30 to be released so as to initiate a cycle of operation of the embossing means, and as this is occurring, the latch is will be cammed over the outer edge of the stop Si and will assume the effective or latching position of Fig. 3. At the time when the latching relationship is completed, the abutment plate ill of the arm I EA will be engaged with the surface MT of the shroud, while the surface." of the shroud will be engaged with the adjacent surface of the stop 5i. and hence the shaft I 0 and the associated die heads will be accurately located in the selected position determined by the stop SI.

The operation of the shroud plate as thus described serves to prevent actuation of a stop S where such actuation is initiated at a time when the shroud plate iii is located directly over the selected stop S, and in practice it has been found that on machines of the character disclosed in the aforesaid Duncan and Hubbard patent the proper operation of the mechanism under all circumstances may be assured by extending the shroud 50 in a leading direction in an amount'such that the leading edge 58 of the shroud plateis disposed forwardly or in a leading direction from the abutment plate I8 in an amount equal to substantially five times the spacing of the adjacent stops S.

It will be recognized of course that just prior to the time when the shroud plate 50 moves into position over a particular stop S, an upward setting movement of the particular stop 5 may be initiated, and such a circumstance may result in a partial or incomplete upward setting movement of this stop. The situation that is thus presented is rendered immaterial under the present invention through the provision of a cam surface 58C on the lower leading edge or corner of the shroud plate 50, this cam surface 580 being so arranged that when a stop S is in the partially actuated position, as indicated by the stop S2 in Fig. 6, the adjacent upper corner of such a stop S2 will be cammed downwardly so that the shroud plate 50 will ride along the top of the stop S2 as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

Thus the incomplete actuation of -such a stop S2 will be ineffective tocause stopping of the arm I5A or actuation of the control latch 30, and after the shroud plate 50 has passed off of the top of the particular stop as $2, the setting movement of the particular stop may be accomplished in the usual manner so that this stop will be effective to set the die heads in the selected position in the next rotative movement of the shaft III.

The mechanism of the present invention also assures proper operation in those instances where the surface 58 of the shroud plate 50 strikesa partially actuated stop that is only slightly above the level of the upper end of the cam surface 58C. In such an instance, the only force acting on the particular stop S to tend to oppose the setting force is the force of the spring 54, but this is insufiicient toprevent completion of the setting movement. Hence. by the time the plate I8 of the arm I5A has reached the surface 5ST, the particular stop S will be in its fully set position.

present invention enables the selective stop mechanism of an embossing machine to be aperated in such a manner that proper operation From the foregoing it will be evident that the I preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims. I

I claim:

1. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting member mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop arm so as to be efiective to stop rotative movement of said shaft, and means disposed between said arm and said mounting member and operable throughout a predetermined range at leastequal to the spacing of a'plurality of stops and extending in a leading direction from said stop arm to prevent setting of any one of the stops disposed within,

such range.

2. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting member mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, a control pawl mounted on said arm for control movement relative thereto, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop-arm and control pawl so as to be eifective to actuate said control pawl and stop rotative movement of said shaft, and means disposed between said arm and said mounting member and operable throughout a predetermined range at least equal to the spacing of a plurality of stops and extending in a. leading direction "from said stop arm to prevent setting of any one of the stops disposed within such range.

'3. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossingmachine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting member stationarily mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop arm 50 as to be effective to stop rotative movement of said shaft, and yielding lost-motion means mounted on said shaft for limited angular movement relative to said arm and operable throughout a predetermined range atleast equal to the spacing of a plurality of stops and extending in a leading direction from said stop arm to prevent setting of any one of the stops disposed within such range.

4. In a selectivestop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting'member mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, a control pawl mounted on said arm for control movement relative thereto, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop arm and control pawl so as to be effective to actuate said control pawl through a, control movement and stop rotative movement of said shaft, and means disposed between said arm and said mounting member and operable throughout a predetermined range at least equal to the spacing of a plurality of stops and extending in a leading direction from said stop arm to prevent setting of any one of the stops disposed within such range, said means also being operable upon engagement with a partially actuated stop to cam such stop to its inactive position.

5. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a stationary mounting member mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop arm so as to be effective to stop rotative movement of said shaft, a shroud plate mounted on said shaft for limited angular movement relative to said arm and disposed between said arm and said mounting member, and spring means urging said shroud plate in an advancing direction relative-to said arm to a leading position wherein said shroud plate overlies a plurality of stops and prevents setting movement of all stops disposed between the leading edge of said shroud plate and said stop arm.

6. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting member stationarily mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, a control pawl mounted on said arm for control movement relative thereto, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop arm and control pawl so as to be effective to actuate said control pawl through a control movement and stop rotative movement of said shaft, a shroud plate mounted on said shaftfor limited angular movement relative to said arm and disposed between said arm and said mounting member, and spring means urging said shroud plate in an advancing direction relative to said arm to aleading position wherein said shroud plate overlies a plurality of stops and prevents setting movement of all of the stops disposed between the leading edge of said shroud plate and said stop arm.

7. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a stationary mounting member mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, a control member associated with said shaft for control movement relative thereto, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop arm and control member so as to be effective to actuate said control member through a control movement and stop rotative movement of said shaft, and means associated with said shaft and operable throughout a predetermined range at least equal to the spacing of a plurality of stops and extending in a leading direction from said stop arm to prevent setting of any one of the stops disposed within such range.

8. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting member mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, a control pawl mounted on said arm for control movement relative thereto, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactivepositions to set positions wherein an actuated or fully set stop lies in the path of said stop arm and control pawl so as to -be effective to actuate said control pawl through a control movement and stop rotative movement of said shaft, a shroud plate mounted on said shaft for limited angular movement relative to said arm and disposed between said arm and said mounting member. spring means urging said shroud plate in an advancing direction relative to said arm to a leading position wherein said shroud plate overlies a plurality of stops and prevents setting movement of any of the stops disposed between the leading edge of said stop arm and the leading edge of said shroud plate, said shroud plate having a flange along its leading edge extended away from said mounting member andaflording a leading face for abutment with a set one of said stops and also afone of said stops and also affording a trailing I movement of said arm, said shroud plate having fording a trailing face for contact with said control pawl and said stop arm to actuate said control pawl and stop movement of said arm.

9. In a selective stop mechanism ,for the die 45 heads of an embossing machine. a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting member mounted in surstop arm, a control pawl mounted on said arm for control movement relative thereto, anannular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movea cam surface on the lower leading edge thereof operable when it engages a partially actuated stop to cam said stop to its ineffective position.

10. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting member mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop arm so as to be effective to stop rotative movement Of said shaft, a shroud plate mounted on said shaft for limited angular movement relative to said arm and disposed between said arm and said mounting member, and spring means urging said shroud plate in an advancing direction relative to said arm to a leading position wherein said shroud plate overlies and prevents setting movement of a plurality of stops disposed in a leading direction from said stop arm, said shroud plate having a cam surface on the lower leading edge thereof operable when it engages a partially actuated stop to cam said stop to its ineffective position.

11. In a selective stop mechanism for the die heads of an embossing machine, a rotatable die head shaft constantly driven in a predetermined advancing direction, a radial stop arm fixed on said shaft, a mounting member mounted in surrounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said stop arm, a control pawl mounted on said arm for control movement relative thereto, an annular series of stops movably mounted on said mounting member for selective setting movement from normal inactive positions to set positions wherein an actuated or set stop lies in the path of said stop arm and control pawl so as to be effective to actuate said control pawl through a control movement and stop rotative movement of said shaft, a shroud plate mounted on said shaft for limited angular movement relative to said arm and disposed between said arm and said rounding relation to said shaft adjacent to said 50 ment from normal inactive positions to set posi- 5g tions wherein an actuated or set stop lines in the path ofsaid stop arm and control pawl sons to be effective to actuate said control pawl through a control movement and stop rotative movement of said shaft; a shroud plate mounted on said go shaft for limited angular movement relative to said arm and disposed between said arm and said mounting member, spring means urging said shroud plate in an advancing direction relative to said arm to a leading position wherein said shroud plate overlies a plurality of stops and prevents setting movement of any one of the stops disposed between said'stop arm and the leading edge of said shroud plate, said shroud plate having a flange along its leadingedge 'ex- 7 1,051,241

tended away from said mounting member and alording a leading Inc for abutment with a set mounting member, and spring means urging said shroud plate in an advancing direction relative to said arm to a leading position wherein said shroud plate overlies a plurality of stops and prevents setting movement of any one of the stops disposed in a leading direction from said stop arm and between said stop arm and the leading edge of said shroud plate, said shroud plate having acam surface on the lower leading edge thereof operable when it engages a partially actuated stop to cam said stop to its ineffective position.

JOHN H. GRU'VER.

nnrsnnncns crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

mum s'ra'ras PATENTS Number 'Name Date Lee Jan. 21, 1913 1,407,492 Bteere Feb. 21, 1922 1,518,904 Duncan Dec. 9,1924 

